DALLAS (FWAA) Led by a defense that held one of the nation's top offenses to six points, the LSU Tigers (9-0) won a rare mid-season No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, 9-6 in overtime at Alabama, to earn the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 5.
Interceptions by Morris Claiborne and Eric Reid in the final 17 minutes stymied opportunities for Alabama, which could never expand its leads of 3-0 and 6-3. Drew Alleman hit a 19-yard field goal to end the first half, then another from 30 yards out with 47 seconds left to send the game into overtime. His game-winner from 25 yards came moments later.
It's the first time that LSU's been undefeated through nine games since 1973, and it marked the Tigers' seventh win over Alabama in their last nine games.
"It definitely didn't go by script. The most interesting thing is that you just have to keep fighting and finding a way to win," LSU head coach Les Miles said after the game. "Not necessarily a pretty game, but it had a nice ending."
Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 5 included:
Louisville (5-4): The Cardinals picked a prime time to post their highest scoring output of the season, knocking off West Virginia, 38-35. Louisville worked behind freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to win its third straight, with help from a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Andrew Johnson.
Northwestern (4-5): The Wildcats held the lead from wire-to-wire, earning a win in their first trip to Nebraska's Memorial Stadium, 28-25. Kain Colter was a catalyst, throwing for 114 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 57 yards.
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the seventh season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during the 2011 college football regular season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week.
Founded in 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted seven games that have decided the college football national championship, including four Bowl Championship Series title games. This season, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be played on Jan. 2, 2012, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 30, 2011, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to
footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.